Loving God of signs and wonders, may this dear reader be blessed with passionate patience today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Romans 14: 1 Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with - even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently. 2 For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume all Christians should be vegetarians and eat accordingly. 3 But since both are guests at Christ's table, wouldn't it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn't eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table. 4 Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God's welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help. 5 Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience. 6 What's important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God's sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you're a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. 7 None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters. 8 It's God we are answerable to - all the way from life to death and everything in between - not each other. 9 That's why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other. 10 So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I'd say it leaves you looking pretty silly - or worse. Eventually, we're all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren't going to improve your position there one bit. 11 Read it for yourself in Scripture: "As I live and breathe," God says, "every knee will bow before me; Every tongue will tell the honest truth that I and only I am God." 12 So tend to your knitting. You've got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God. (The Message)
I reminded one of my congregations that on Sunday we'll be remembering that ten years ago, we suffered a terrible tragedy on what is now known as 9/11. I told them it was a sad day for us as citizens of the USA. I also reminded them of how for about two weeks people were unlike other times. You could see it as you drove, people were more courteous. People appreciated people. There seemed to be more patience and compassion. There was more understanding. Why? People realized that things can change from one minute to the next. That's what Paul is saying in this passage. Why get caught up on things that divide us when we should center on He who unites us as one? Someone has said that churches do better when they identify a common enemy; I ask why can't we do better identifying to others the common Savior we share? Vegetarians vs. meateaters. What a contest. Saturday vs. Sunday for worship. Really? You did this. I did that. Does it matter in the end? Jesus came that we might have life and that to the fullest; anything that detracts us from that understanding and that way of life in the end, doesn't really matter.
Center on Jesus.
PRAYER: Loving God, for the multitudes of divisions we have we apologize and ask for forgiveness. Let me begin by centering on Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and let Him help me put the rest into perspective. I pray this in His name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
